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A Dedicated Company Keeps Upgrading Their Product Line

Ever since we were 'Booth Neighbors' at AEA 2011, we've enjoyed spending some time here and there with the folks of AEM... a small company that rose from what used to be NAT. Northern Airborne Technology was bought by Cobham about 15 years ago, and as part of that move, decided to consolidate much of its manufacturing back into the US. But a few divisions, such as AEM, stayed home in Canada.

This "created an opportunity for a 100% employee-owned, vertically integrated company to emerge with an incredible amount of skill, experience and capability." AEM is now a leading designer and manufacturer of aircraft audio systems, intercoms, tactical FM radio systems, illuminated panels & display products, external PA systems, audio amplifiers, audio adapters and remote switch assemblies. In December, 2010, AEM became the only provider of many of the former NAT products, after completing a licensing agreement with Cobham.

The products include audio systems, PA systems, and "tactical accessories." AEM Boss Dave Veitch says the goal is to take the line and refresh it, make them current and competitive, and "hopefully, that will take us into some other markets that we haven't been in before."

Along with its finished product offerings, AEM provides comprehensive electronics manufacturing for emerging companies and companies with emerging products. This includes providing solutions for the unique challenges of lower volume, high-mix product configurations and accelerating time to market. Being vertically integrated allows AEM to compete effectively in this market while providing maximum oversight on quality and delivery commitments.